Highlights: The Trump presidency on April 20 at 19:58 P.M. EDT/2358 GMT

(Reuters) - Highlights for U.S. President Donald Trump's administration on Thursday:

TRADE AND IMF

The Trump administration delivers a simple but stark message to world financial leaders who gathered in Washington amid worries about rising U.S. protectionism: fair trade means tit-for-tat tariffs.

NORTH KOREA

Trump praises Chinese efforts to rein in "the menace of North Korea" after North Korean state media warns the United States of a "super-mighty preemptive strike."

U.S. STEEL

Trump moves against China and other exporters of cheap steel into the U.S. market, starting a federal investigation to determine whether foreign-made steel threatens U.S. steelmakers and national security.

IRAN

Iran and the United States trade barbs over the landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Trump accusing Tehran of not living up to the spirit of the accord and Iran's top diplomat urging Washington to fulfill its own commitments.

RUSSIA

Russia dismisses as false a Reuters report saying a government think tank controlled by President Vladimir Putin developed a plan to swing the 2016 U.S. presidential election to Trump.

U.S. ECONOMY

American economic growth will not achieve the administration's 3 percent goal this year or next, even if some fiscal stimulus and changes to tax laws are implemented, according to economists in a Reuters poll.

TRADE WITH JAPAN

Japan has less room to compromise with the United States under a bilateral trade deal than under a multilateral agreement like the Trans-Pacific Partnership, its deputy prime minister says, taking a swipe at U.S. attempts to pressure Tokyo into opening heavily protected markets like agriculture.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau brushes off an attack by Trump on Canada's system of dairy protections, saying every country defends its agricultural industries.

ENVIRONMENT

An environmental group is suing the administration over the repeal of a U.S. rule intended to protect wildlife, in the first court challenge to a law being used by Republicans to ease federal regulation.

EGYPT

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis says he is optimistic about improving military ties with Egypt after talks in Cairo with President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, following a period of strain under the Obama administration.